The Cuban actress and influencer Eileen Morales, known as La Cubana de TikTok (@lacubanatiktok), sparked extensive debate on social media after posting a video that has garnered over 1.3 million 'likes' and more than 35,000 comments. The creator responded to a follower who referred to her as a “poor woman for coming from Cuba” with a message about effort, freedom, and overcoming challenges in exile.
"Why poor little thing?", Morales began saying in his video, looking directly at the camera. "Is it because I come from Cuba, a country in dictatorship with hunger, misery, and need? Is it because I arrived in the United States just four years ago and bought a property worth almost a million dollars that has two houses, one for renting out and making money, and another for living? Is it because I have two businesses, that I am an influencer in Miami, and that I help businesses grow?"
The influencer proudly continued: "Because I bought the sports car that I love to drive, because I go to work making videos in a car that I enjoy speeding through the streets of Miami, because now I bought a motorcycle that I like—that is, I have everything I want. 'Oh, poor thing, because she came from Cuba,' no. The real victims are those who are born in countries with opportunities, those who are born in free countries and don't take advantage of those opportunities."
Morales recalled that upon arriving in the United States, she faced criticism from those close to her: "Even my own family and people I know criticized me. They would say, 'Oh, you’re crazy, don’t do this, don’t make videos, you’re wasting your time.' And I just moved past that," she recounted. She also noted that they told her she could only buy a house in Homestead, but she responded with actions: "I bought one in Coral Gables because I get things done, because I’m tough, because I came here to succeed."
Amid laughter, she concluded her message with a phrase that many users echoed in the comments: "I silenced everyone, people who were born here; I give them jobs, I pay them. I am the voice, I am the boss and the owner because I didn’t come here to play."
The video sparked a wave of reactions. Some users celebrated her story: “That’s speaking with actions, not complaints”; “An example of a hardworking Cuban woman, without victimhood”; “You made me cry, I arrived with nothing and today I have my own business, thank you for reminding us that it is possible.” Others were more critical: “Too much arrogance, success isn’t measured by money,” or “The message is good, but without humility it gets lost.” There were also humorous comments and reflections on the life of an immigrant: “I’ve been here for six years and I still pay rent, but I understand. Everyone has their own story.”
The publication reinforces the discourse that Morales has maintained in recent years, focused on denouncing the Cuban reality and advocating for individual effort. In previous occasions, he has criticized the manipulation of the country's image, as when he stated that "a full refrigerator does not represent a people" , or when he pointed out that "all that tourism money goes into the government's pockets and does not help the people" . He has also questioned those who downplay the crisis on the island, reminding them that "in Cuba, it's illegal even to fish, and if you kill a cow, you are imprisoned worse than a rapist" .
Morales has also shared her own journey of growth in the United States. In 2024, she showed the small efficiency where she lived in Miami, explaining that she preferred to pay less to save money. “From here, I'm going to my own home,” she said at that time in the video where she gave a tour of her place, featured in one of her viral posts. Her recent message on TikTok confirms that she achieved that goal.
With her latest video, Eileen Morales reaffirms her conviction that freedom and work can transform lives. Without victimization or concessions, she made her viewpoint clear: "Poor those who are born in free countries and do not take advantage of the opportunities."
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